Research | Know Pathology Know Healthcare https://knowpathology.com.au The engine room of healthcare explained Mon, 29 Nov 2021 03:58:55 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://knowpathology.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KPKH_Favicon-32x32.png Research | Know Pathology Know Healthcare https://knowpathology.com.au 32 32 Tasmanian haematologists shaving heads to raise money for World’s Greatest Shave https://knowpathology.com.au/tasmanian-haematologists-shaving-heads-to-raise-money-for-worlds-greatest-shave/ Thu, 21 Mar 2019 16:05:31 +0000 http://knowpathology.com.au/?p=5349 Assessing blood cancers like leukaemia is part of the daily workflow for Dr Tracey Batt and Dr Anna Johnston of Royal Hobart Hospital. Dual-trained as haematologists and physicians, the doctors perform the important task of diagnosing cancers and helping guide and administer treatment. Usually holed up indoors, today they are stepping out of the lab … Continue reading Tasmanian haematologists shaving heads to raise money for World’s Greatest Shave

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Assessing blood cancers like leukaemia is part of the daily workflow for Dr Tracey Batt and Dr Anna Johnston of Royal Hobart Hospital.

Dual-trained as haematologists and physicians, the doctors perform the important task of diagnosing cancers and helping guide and administer treatment.

Usually holed up indoors, today they are stepping out of the lab and surgery in a display of solidarity with the patients whose cancers they help uncover and treat.

At 5 o’clock today, the doctors head to the Shambles Brewery in North Hobart to shave their heads for the World’s Greatest Shave.

‘Getting a taste of their own medicine,’ is how Dr Johnston describes it.

The pair originally discussed the fundraising venture during their lunch break, but admittedly, Dr Batt has more to lose than Dr Johnston, in the hair stakes that is.

Dr Johnston is awake to the sacrifice, noting ‘Tracey has long beautiful hair, while mine is fairly short already. Not that my nine-year-old daughter hasn’t raised concerns.’

But Dr Batt’s loss will be the gain of ‘Sustainable Salons’, an organisation that makes wigs from real hair and of course the World’s Greatest Shave that seeks to raise money for research and support of those living with blood cancers.

‘It’s true,’ said Dr Batt, ‘that I have bountiful hair and that will be hard to lose, but given we’ve raised around $9,000 so far makes it all worthwhile.’

Outside the display of solidarity with blood cancer patients and the money raised for blood cancer research, day-to-day haematologists like Dr Batt and Dr Johnston perform vital work.

100% of cancers like leukaemia or lymphoma are diagnosed in pathology labs. The discoveries made in a pathology lab are also central to decisions on how to treat blood cancers.

‘This afternoon we’re about to shave our heads to raise money for the World’s Greatest Shave, which we’re really excited about and feel is really important to draw attention to,’ said Dr Johnston.

‘Blood cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in Australia,’ added Dr Batt. ‘so, it’s great to be able to support people with blood cancers both inside and outside a medical environment.’

To donate to Dr Johnston and Dr Batt click on the links here and here.

For fast-facts on blood cancers click here

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Personalized medicine on a whole new level for mutliple myeloma https://knowpathology.com.au/personalized-medicine-multiple-myeloma/ Thu, 09 Feb 2017 04:28:22 +0000 http://knowpathology.com.au/?p=3606 Research coming out of the University of Wisconsin could bring new hope to cancer patients previously left with limited options. Multiple myeloma is a form of blood cancer that currently has no cure. It can be treated but the cancer will return – even with the most state-of-the-art treatment. The cancer targets plasma cells and then invades … Continue reading Personalized medicine on a whole new level for mutliple myeloma

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Research coming out of the University of Wisconsin could bring new hope to cancer patients previously left with limited options.

Multiple myeloma is a form of blood cancer that currently has no cure. It can be treated but the cancer will return – even with the most state-of-the-art treatment. The cancer targets plasma cells and then invades the bone marrow, where the cancerous plasma cells crowd out healthy blood cells. This in turn can lead to other serious health problems including kidney damage and increased likelihood of infection.

The research team, led by the university’s Carbone Cancer Centre but including another 14 cancer research centres, is hoping to change this by conducting the first large-scale trial of a ‘personalized vaccine’ to fight tumors.

The trial will use a patient’s own immune cells combined with their tumor cells to fight the cancer and stop it from recurring. Dr Natalie Callander, head of the trial at UW Carbone, said;

“We’re trying to train the immune system to be constantly surveying to identify and wipe out the re-emerging cancer cells.’’

The team will collect the cancer cells from participating patients and freeze them. Once the patient has undergone chemotherapy to reduce the cancer, their cancer cells will be fused with their own blood cells. The researchers hope that this will generate an immune response which can fight the tumor as quickly as it appears. Dr Callander added;

“This trial is taking personalized medicine to the next level, by making a vaccine from the patient’s own tumors.’’

For more details you can read Dr Callander’s full statement.

 

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Blood test could be used to predict Ebola deaths https://knowpathology.com.au/blood-test-predict-ebola-deaths/ Mon, 23 Jan 2017 06:17:59 +0000 http://knowpathology.com.au/?p=3557 In 2014 western Africa was in the grips of the worst outbreak of Ebola ever recorded. By 2016 it had killed more than 11,000 people. One of the questions on researchers’ minds since the outbreak was declared over has been why those 11,000 died out of the 28,000 reported cases of infection. There are some … Continue reading Blood test could be used to predict Ebola deaths

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In 2014 western Africa was in the grips of the worst outbreak of Ebola ever recorded. By 2016 it had killed more than 11,000 people.

One of the questions on researchers’ minds since the outbreak was declared over has been why those 11,000 died out of the 28,000 reported cases of infection.

There are some obvious factors; supportive hospital care improves prognosis, whilst a high amount of virus in the body increases likelihood of death. But these factors alone didn’t always predict who would live or die. So what else could be at play? And could research into the issue provide us with valuable information to stop a similar epidemic spreading again?

A team of researchers led by Boston University has discovered a biomarker that they say can help predict the progression of the disease. A handful of genes that are over-activated and therefore produce an overly aggressive immune response to the virus have been found in those that succumb to the disease. This response can damage organs—particularly the liver—and therefore hamper a more targeted immune response.

The research team discovered the biomarker whilst analyzing blood samples from the 2014 Ebola epidemic. A/Prof John Connor, an author on the study, said;

“The study suggests that something about the way people respond to infection affects their chance of survival. We can get a sense of who will survive and who won’t, and we can get it earlier.”

The blood test is in the preliminary development stages and the study is limited (samples were used from the 2014 outbreak which involved only one strain of the virus) but A/Prof Connor believes it is likely similar biomarkers will appear with other strains. And the team are optimistic that it might be useful in future outbreaks to steer patients to the best treatment. Connor added;

“The nature of the victim’s immune response has something to do with it, but the information we got from these samples is a one-time snapshot. This study gives us an important piece of information, but it doesn’t solve the whole puzzle.”

Read more on the Boston University website or see the full study published in the journal Genome Biology, suggests a new type of blood test that while still in the preliminary stages of development, might be useful in

 

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Blood transfusions save lives but are they anti-aging? https://knowpathology.com.au/blood-transfusions-save-lives-but-are-they-anti-aging/ Tue, 17 Jan 2017 01:40:50 +0000 http://knowpathology.com.au/?p=3511 It seems like there’s a new health fad hitting the headlines every other week these days but this one has caught our attention – and not in a good way. A California-based startup, Ambrosia, is enrolling volunteers for the first US clinical trial to investigate the anti-aging effects of injecting adults’ veins with the blood of … Continue reading Blood transfusions save lives but are they anti-aging?

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It seems like there’s a new health fad hitting the headlines every other week these days but this one has caught our attention – and not in a good way.

A California-based startup, Ambrosia, is enrolling volunteers for the first US clinical trial to investigate the anti-aging effects of injecting adults’ veins with the blood of young people.

Now, we all know that blood transfusions are life-saving.

A regular blood transfusion, which involves pumping the plasma of a healthy person into the veins of a patient via an IV, is an invaluable procedure for surgery patients, women giving birth, cancer patients and trauma victims. But anti-aging? We’re not convinced…

Jesse Karmazin, founder of Ambrosia, claims he has performed the procedure on 30 people and they’re already seeing benefits including renewed focus, improved appearance and more muscle tone. He is aiming to enroll 600 people in the wider trial.

But there is no evidence to suggest this kind of transfusion will have any benefit to the recipient and experts are skeptical that the trial will produce any kind of significant data.

One Stanford University neuroscientist, Tony Wyss-Coray, who lead his own study looking at young plasma in mice in 2014, said;

“There’s just no clinical evidence [that the treatment will be beneficial], and you’re basically abusing people’s trust and the public excitement around this.”

Because that’s the other issue here; the trial procedure, which involves getting 1.5 litres of plasma from a donor between the ages of 16 and 25 over the course of two days, costs each volunteer US$8,000.

Before and after the infusion, participants’ blood will be tested for ‘biomarkers’, a variety of measurable biological substances and processes which are thought to provide a snapshot into health and disease.

Where is the evidence?

Karmazin’s leading motivation was a series of mouse studies that involved connecting the veins of two living mice. Wyss-Coray’s own such study in 2014 suggested that this procedure could rejuvenate a part of the mouse brain where memories are made and stored.

But other researchers on Wyss-Coray’s team were hesitant to suggest the results showed any kind of anti-aging effect.

“We’re not de-ageing animals,” Amy Wagers, a stem-cell researcher at Harvard University told Nature in 2014. Instead of turning old tissues into young ones, Wagers said they were simply helping to repair damage.

Nevertheless, Karmazin remains enthusiastic.

“I’m really happy with the results we’re seeing,” he said.

As for us? We’ll wait and see – the proof is in the plasma after all.

Read the full story on Business Insider

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World-first screening trial for genes linked to breast and ovarian cancers https://knowpathology.com.au/screening-trial-genes-breast-ovarian-cancers/ Tue, 13 Dec 2016 02:13:53 +0000 http://knowpathology.com.au/?p=3203 The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is going to be undertaking a world-first screening trial to determine how many women out of a participating 10,000 are carriers of common gene mutations associated with cancer. The trial could be the first step towards routine screening for all women to assist in earlier diagnosis and increased life expectancy … Continue reading World-first screening trial for genes linked to breast and ovarian cancers

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The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is going to be undertaking a world-first screening trial to determine how many women out of a participating 10,000 are carriers of common gene mutations associated with cancer.

The trial could be the first step towards routine screening for all women to assist in earlier diagnosis and increased life expectancy for cancer patients.

The hospital have already completed a pilot study, screening 2,000 women. The study showed that for every 100 women tested one new carrier of genetic mutations was uncovered. The head of the Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Professor Ian Campbell explained;

“For every one person you detect with the screening, you would automatically identify another three to five mutation carriers as you extend the screening among their family.”

And furthermore, Prof Campbell explained that the screening was seen positively by the participants;

“They were upset that they were carriers, but ultimately they were all happy that it had been detected and hopeful that they can head off getting the cancer.”

The pilot looked at two gene mutations – in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Previous studies have shown that these mutations increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer by 85% and 65% respectively.

Currently a woman is only screened for the mutations after she or someone in her family is diagnosed. However, around half of those with one of the mutations don’t have a family history.

This kind of population based screening could have the potential to catch individual cancer cases earlier through increased screening or prevent them through risk reduction (e.g. women opting to undergo preventative mastectomies).

The new $1 million study funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council starting next month will screen participants from Lifepool, a database of 53,000 women.

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Australian scientist in new global genomic search for cancer cures https://knowpathology.com.au/global-genomic-search-cancer-cures/ Wed, 02 Nov 2016 23:14:48 +0000 http://knowpathology.com.au/?p=1251 An ambitious global genomic research project has been announced to identify new ways to prevent and treat a huge range of cancers. The International Cancer Genome Consortium for Medicine (ICGCMed) will sequence the genes of 200,000 people with cancer to accelerate advances in cancer treatments. Dr Nik Zeps is a Perth-based cancer researcher with a … Continue reading Australian scientist in new global genomic search for cancer cures

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An ambitious global genomic research project has been announced to identify new ways to prevent and treat a huge range of cancers.

The International Cancer Genome Consortium for Medicine (ICGCMed) will sequence the genes of 200,000 people with cancer to accelerate advances in cancer treatments.

Dr Nik Zeps is a Perth-based cancer researcher with a passion for translating complex scientific breakthroughs into practical uses that benefit patients. He’s playing several roles in the new project including sitting on the ethical, scientific planning and communications committees.

The project will record non-genetic patient information including details from the pathology report at diagnosis, response to treatments, survival information and patient demographics as well as lifestyle and environmental factors known to influence cancer risk.

This information will be cross-referenced with the genomic data collected. By doing this, the ICGCMed team will identify which genetic changes result in aggressive cancers, and which result in non-threatening or benign tumours. This helps doctors and patients make better treatment choices sooner after diagnosis. Dr Zeps says,

“Australia has a proud tradition of innovation in pathology and medical research and three Australian projects have already been run locally for ICGC in pancreatic and ovarian cancer and in Melanoma. ICGCMed projects will extend that work and could improve cancer prevention and treatment for Australians over the next 10 to 20 years.”

One of the most immediate benefits for patients and researchers will be to simplify clinical trial recruitment, fueling faster discoveries.

Finding cancer patients that meet strict criteria for clinical trials of new drugs and treatments is time consuming. By having such detailed information on hand, potential trial participants can be identified faster, reducing the time needed to complete studies.

Within nine years scientists hope to identify risk factors for specific cancers; develop successful cancer prevention strategies; create new tests for earlier, faster diagnosis and better match treatments with cancer types and lifestyle/environmental factors.

Dr Zeps was an investigator on a previous ICGC project based in Australia that sequenced 461 Australian men and women with pancreatic cancer – a disease with one of the worst survival rates worldwide. The information gained from that study is already being used to improve treatment for pancreatic cancer. He says;

“Input from pathology laboratories is vital to the success of the ICGCMed projects. Pathology teams provide the biopsy samples that are sequenced, detailed genomic and non-genomic information about the cancers, inform us when relapses occur, and help monitor each individual’s response to new trial treatments.”

The ability to sequence entire genomes at an affordable price has made large-scale projects such as ICGCMed possible. The Human Genome Project from 1990-2003 was the first time scientists mapped all the genes in a human body. It took 20 international research institutes and nearly USD $3 billion. Now this information can be sequenced within a few days for around USD $3,000 onto a computer chip the size of an adult’s hand.

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